Sage Vyasa wrote eighteen Puranas (scriptures based on mythological stories), but is there anyone who has the time to go through all of them? People claim they do not have time - time to read scriptures or to observe vratas (worshipful wovs) or service as they have work related to office, business or education and so on. Many of these excuses are not true. A person returns from the office and relaxes in the chair saying that he is tired. Is he relaxing sitting on the chair? No, he watches television! Is he not tired to see TV or play or chat with friends? Truly speaking if one wants to think of God, there is plenty of time. All of you have sufficient time but misuse and waste it. True human value is to effectively use time. All of you are embodiments of the Divine. Do not harm, cheat or hurt others or your own self. There is no form of devotion higher than developing these sacred qualities. (Divine Discourse, 08-Apr-1997)

- BABA

Date27:2/2018

You are not educated if all that you have achieved is the study of a ton of books. The body and the mind have to be illumined by the light of love that emanates from the awareness of the Soul and its essential Divinity. Since education today deals only with the body and mind, and is unrelated to the Soul, the youth of the land are wafted hither and thither by every passing gust like rootless vegetation. Awareness of the Atman will grant unshakeable power and courage. The Vedas teach the means of securing this awareness and drawing on it to meet the challenges of life. That alone can crown education with success. That alone can strengthen youth to encounter the problems of unrest and anxiety. The colleges have to teach not only certain subjects, but the subject-object relationship too. The process by which one can transcend this duality and cognise the Unity has also to be communicated to render education complete. (Divine Discourse, Jan 31, 1974)

- BABA

Date26:2/2018

All are God's children and are equally entitled to the love of the Lord. Why then are there differences amongst men and women? Why is there no equality or sameness? This is because of differences in the mental make-up of people. If the mind is impure, one's actions are bound to be impure. When the mind and the consciousness are warped by egoism, the human behaviour is also distorted. When these are turned towards the Divine, good actions follow naturally. Your mind is the cause of good and bad deeds. Hence, whatever you wish to achieve, you should try to accomplish without excitement or agitation. Wisdom or spiritual knowledge (Jnana) is regarded as the primary requisite for every human being. But what is truly primary is one’s conduct - righteous conduct. Your conduct determines your qualities and the qualities, in their turn, determine your behavior! (Divine Discourse, Apr 08, 1983)

- BABA

Date25:2/2018

Look on with an equal mind at good fortune and misfortune, happiness and sorrow, loss and gain. These are products of nature like heat and cold, summer and winter. They have their purposes to serve. Similarly the ups and downs of life have lessons to teach us. In fact, without reverses in life, we will not be able to experience Divinity. Without darkness, we cannot value light. Without experiencing difficulties, we will not be able to enjoy benefits. It is the lack of peace of mind which compels us to seek the means to realise enduring peace. The scriptures (Upanishads) have declared that through renunciation alone can immortality be attained. You must learn to practice true renunciation in your daily living so that you may discover the secret of enduring peace and bliss. (Divine Discourse, Apr 06, 1983)

- BABA

Date24:2/2018

You derive exaltation while worshipping a carved stone idol in the temple. How much more exalted should you be while worshipping the self-same God residing in the temple-hearts of the men and women amongst you! And not merely in the human frames; God lives in every bird, beast, tree, pebble and speck of dust! Remember, the grace of God cannot be won by merely repeating His glories! Recite the name of your chosen Lord, with its halo of meaning clear in your mind and soaked into your acts and feelings. The Americans who sang bhajans today paid attention to the tune and its beat; they also learnt the meaning of each song and sang it from their heart, respecting its spirit with bha-va (feelings), ra-ga (tune) and tha-la (rhythm) - Bha-ra-tha - that entitles them to be called Bharatiyas! The culture of ‘Bharat’ is built on rati (attachment) to Bhagawan; so, any person, independent of their race, who is attached to the Lord is a Bharatiya! (Divine Discourse, Jul 19, 1970)

- BABA

Date23:2/2018

Almost every activity is motivated by self-interest. This concern for self-interest is opposed to the Divinity that is immanent in one. Without realising this Divinity, how can one achieve peace internally or in the world outside? There is no greater quality than selfless love, which expresses itself in service to others. Understand the relationship between karma and karma yoga properly. Ordinary action (karma) done with attachment or desires causes bondage. But desireless selfless action becomes karmayoga. Our life should become one of Divine Communion (yoga) rather than a roga (disease). Today most of our actions result in roga because we are attracted to sensuous pleasures. Freedom from this disease can be obtained by pursuing the spiritual path. The spiritual path is not merely singing bhajans or reciting hymns. These are merely good deeds. Only those actions which are performed as a complete offering to the Divine can be regarded as spiritual. (Divine Discourse, Apr 06, 1983)

- BABA

Date22:2/2018

I am insisting on five points of discipline which will transform your homes and villages into Prasanthi Nilayams. ‘Silence’ is the first step that makes the other steps easy; it promotes self-control and reduces chances of anger, hate, malice, greed and pride. Besides, you can hear God’s footsteps only when silence reigns in the mind. ‘Cleanliness’ is the doorway to Godliness. Inner and outer cleanliness are essential to install God in your heart. ‘Service’ broadens your vision, widens awareness and deepens compassion. All are waves on the same sea. Service teaches you to be firm in this knowledge. ‘Love’ - Do not calculate or weigh the reaction, result or reward. Love calls; love responds. Love is God, live in Love. ‘Non-hatred’ towards all - No being must be looked down upon as inferior, unimportant, or expendable. Each of you are allotted your role in the drama designed by the Almighty. Do not slight, insult or injure any being; for, He is in every being and your slight becomes a sacrilege. (Divine Discourse, Jul 19, 1970)

- BABA

Date21:2/2018

People earn much wealth and various degrees, but where is the defect? Many think that wealth causes all evil things, and degrees are detrimental. No, both of them are faultless. Water is pure and sweet, but when stored in a red coloured bottle, water appears to be red and when stored in purple bottle, it appears purple. From where did the colours appear? The individual is the bottle; bad or good is reflection of the individual attributes. If the individual is rajasic or passionate, then the wealth and education become useless. If the individual is of satwic or noble nature, then the actions and education would become noble too. Therefore the heart must be pure. In this context it is said: Chitta suddhi leni Shiva pooja yetiki? - What is the use of worship of Shiva (God) without purity of the heart? Atma sudhdhi leni acharamadiyela? - What is the use of rituals without purity of the individual? Patra sudhdhi leni pakamela? - How can one cook pure and delicious food without cleanliness of the vessels? (Divine Discourse, Apr 04, 1992)

- BABA

Date20:2/2018

The seer should not attach himself to the seen; that is the way to get free. The contact of the senses with the object arouses desire and attachment, this leads to effort and either elation or despair. Then, there is the fear of loss or grief at failure, and the train of reactions lengthens. With many doors and windows kept open to all the winds that blow, how can the flame of the lamp within survive? That lamp is the mind, which must burn steadily unaffected by the dual demands of the world outside. Complete surrender to the Lord is one way to close windows and doors, for, then, in Saranagati (complete surrender to God), you are bereft of ego and so, you are not buffeted by joy or grief. Complete surrender enables you to draw upon the grace of the Lord for meeting all the crises in your career and it renders you heroic and better prepared for life’s battles. (Divine Discourse, Jan 13, 1965)

- BABA

Date19:2/2018

Pray to God and draw from Him the magnet of His grace and offer to the world the power of His electrical energy. This is the energy which everyone can mobilise for common good. It is all-powerful, because it is divine. It is within you. What a pity that people should be unaware of this and feel themselves powerless! All energy and all bliss are within us. It is because of ignorance that people are resorting to all kinds of useless and unnecessary exercises. Have full faith in your spiritual power (Atma-shakti). Adhere to the truth of your faith, without criticising others. Open your hearts and close your mouths. Today people are doing exactly the opposite. Practise silence as far as possible. The one who talks much will do little. One who acts will talk little. Whatever you do, have the name of the Lord on your lips and faith in God in your heart. Thereby work will be transformed into worship. (Divine Discourse, Mar 08, 1997)

- BABA

Date18:2/2018

You may have the best of vegetables, you may be the most capable cook, but if the copper vessel in which you prepare the vegetable soup is not tinned, the dish you cook will be highly poisonous! So ‘tin’ your heart with satya, dharma, shanti and prema (truth, right conduct, peace and divine love), it will then become a vessel fit for repeating the holy name, and for meditation, religious vows, pilgrimage, ritualistic worship and other dishes that you prepare in it. It is an uphill task to reform one's tendencies and character. You may study all the text-books of spiritual practice, all the scriptures, and may even lecture for hours on them, but you will slip into error when temptation confronts you. The heart may appear like a land that is parched and free from any crop of evil, but when the first showers fall, the seeds and roots underneath the soil change the waste into a carpet of green. That is why the human values are so essential. (Divine Discourse, Jan 13, 1965)

- BABA

Date17:2/2018

There are many, maybe a few lakhs or crores, who call themselves devotees of Sai. Even if one Sai devotee practices sacrifice and truth, the whole world would become a better place. Truth and spirit of sacrifice are the two primary principles that are necessary to change the world. Truth sanctifies the heart, and the sense of sacrifice leads us to the renunciation of the worldly. Through these two, one can experience the import of the statement, Antar bahischa tat sarvam vyapya Narayana stitaha - The Lord pervades all space, within and without. In the absence of this true knowledge people indulge in the worldly and transient things from birth till death. How then can they redeem themselves and attain liberation? Every individual must love God to redeem their lives. You are endowed with a body only to practice righteousness. Do not lead an idle life. (Divine Discourse, Mar 08, 1997)

- BABA

Date16:2/2018

Remove all negative feelings. Develop more and more positive thoughts. Along the way some might criticise you, that’s an opportunity of transformation for you! Think this way, “My parents gave me one name, friends gave another name and others gave me a nickname! This body has many names, that’s all!” Will you become bad if someone calls you bad? No! If they call you bad, try to become free of bad qualities, if they are present in you. If someone points out a mistake, try to free yourself from that mistake if it’s there in you – that’s all!” Handle criticism gracefully. Embodiments of love! In this Kali age, when desires are not fulfilled, people start blaming even God! Don't hate anybody and don't accuse anybody; as much as possible, love all and if not possible, at least don't hate anyone. Bhagawan wants all to develop the spirit of oneness and unity. (Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 2000)

- BABA

Date15:2/2018

You may doubt whether a small word like Rama, Sai or Krishna can ferry you across the boundless sea of worldly life. People cross vast oceans on a tiny raft; they can walk through dark jungles with a tiny lamp in their hands. The name Pranava (Om) which is even smaller, has vast potentialities. The raft need not be as big as the sea. Recitation of Lord’s Name is like the operation of boring to tap underground water; it’s like the chisel-stroke that will release the image of God imprisoned in the marble. Break the encasement and the Lord will appear; cleave the pillar, as Prahlada asked his father Hiranyakasipu to do, and the Lord who is ever-present will manifest Himself. Every mother teaches her daughter to churn and bring the butter latent in the milk into view. Similarly in the spiritual field, learn from yogis who gained and offered that fresh butter (navaneetam) to Krishna by reciting His Name. (Divine Discourse, Jan 13, 1965)

- BABA

Date14:2/2018

Developing faith in the Atma principle and loving it earnestly — this is the real worship. The Atma is the one and only Loved One for humanity. Feel that it is more lovable than any object here or hereafter — that is the true adoration one can offer to God. This is what the Vedas teach. The Vedas do not teach acceptance of a bundle of frightfully hard rules and restrictions; they do not hold before one a prison house where one is shut in by the bars of cause and effect. They teach us that there is One who is the sovereign behind all those rules and restrictions; One who is the core of each object, each unit of energy, and each particle or atom; and One under whose orders alone the five elements — ether, air, fire, water, earth — do operate. Love Him, adore Him, worship Him, say the Vedas. This is the grand philosophy of love as elaborated in the Vedas. [Sathya Sai Vahini, Chap 1, “The Supreme Reality]

- BABA

Date13:2/2018

The nature of man is a mixture of progressive and regressive characteristics. One must take note of this and foster the former, to the exclusion of the latter. The will to renounce, to share, and to give up, is a precious virtue. Curiosity, the longing to know, is another quality which must be used to know the Reality which appears as many and momentary. This knowledge can be attained only when the consciousness is purified by the grace of God. Holy days like Shivaratri are marked only to impress upon your mind your duty to impose a 'fast' on your senses and a 'vigil' on your intelligence, and to keep away from polluting impulses and inclinations. Even the thought that you have not benefited from the puja or japam (prayers and contemplation) you do should not pollute your faith. To adhere to spiritual practises is your duty, your innermost urge, and your genuine activity. Leave the rest to the will of God. This must be your resolve on holy Shivaratri. [Divine Discourse, Feb 29, 1984]

- BABA

Date12:2/2018

No living being, except the human, has been endowed with intelligence and discriminative faculty, heightened to this degree, in order to enable it to visualise the Atma (Divine Self). This is why humanity is acclaimed as the crown of creation and why the scriptures (sastras) proclaim that the chance of being born as a human is a rare piece of good fortune. People have the qualifications needed to seek the cause of creation; they have in them the urge and the capacity. Many great people have directed their intelligence toward the discovery of the omnipresent Lord (Atma) and succeeded in visualising that Divine Principle. However, amongst millions of people in the Universe, only few have been able to visualise the Universal Atma or the Self in All. The purpose and meaning of the process of living is the attainment of the Supreme Lord (Atma). [Sathya Sai Vahini, Chap 1, “The Supreme Reality]

- BABA

Date11:2/2018

It is good to love and adore God with a view to gain some valuable fruit either here or hereafter, but since there is nothing more valuable than God, the Vedas advise us to love God with no touch of desire in our minds. Love for love’s sake; love God, since whatever He can give is less than He Himself; love Him alone, with no other wish or demand. Once Draupadi asked Dharmaraja while in exile, “Lord! You are undoubtedly the best amongst those who follow dharma unwaveringly; how did such a terrible calamity happen to you?” She was stricken with sorrow. Dharmaja replied, “Look at this Himalayan range. How magnificent, glorious, beautiful and sublime it is! It is so splendid a phenomenon that I love it without limit. It will not grant me anything, but it is my nature to love the beautiful and the sublime. The embodiment of this sublime beauty is God. He is the only entity that is worth loving. This is why I am loving Him. I will not wish for any favour from Him. I will not pray for any boon. Let Him keep me where He loves to keep me. The highest reward for my love is His love, Draupadi!” [Sathya Sai Vahini, Chap 1, “The Supreme Reality]

- BABA

Date10:2/2018

Most people today are lacking in Love and so in Bliss too. When people form conflicting groups and plot to destroy each other, how can joy and peace reside in them? Ancient myths speak of wars of extermination between Gods and demons and between men and rakshasa (demons). But history today is recording wars between rakshasas who call themselves ‘human’. Why? Because, love is directed towards selfish ends. Sacrifice and charity are indulged in for the sake of self-aggrandizement. People take part in social service only in order to advertise themselves. How can the sweet contents be consumed when the bottle is tightly closed by the two corks - pomp and personal publicity? Remove these corks by the screw of selflessness. Selfless Love implies understanding, and consequently, sympathy and compassion. They will confer Ananda (Divine Bliss). To experience happiness, peace and joy you must allow the innate virtues of Love and sacrifice to emerge from within and thus sanctify your lives. [Divine Discourse, 29-Feb-1984]

- BABA

Date9:2/2018

Of what avail is the study of the Upanishads and the Gita if there is no transformation in our thoughts or way of life? You must examine where all your spiritual practices are leading you to. There must be an urge to change and progress towards a higher state of consciousness. In reality all are embodiments of Sat-chit-ananda (Truth-Consciousness-Bliss)! Your real ‘I’ exists in all the stages of waking, dream and deep sleep. But in dream and deep sleep states you are not conscious of your body. The entity that exists in all three states undergoes no change. You must try to understand the nature of this ‘I’. You may regard this as extremely difficult, but if you have dedication and perseverance, it will be quite easy. There is nothing in the world easier than the spiritual path. But when there is no earnestness, it appears difficult. Hence Gita declared: Shraddhavan labhate Jnanam (The earnest aspirant acquires the Supreme Wisdom). [Divine Discourse, Feb 16, 1988]

- BABA

Date8:2/2018

More effulgent than the Sun, whiter and purer than snow, subtler than ether in space, the Supreme Lord (Paramatma) dwells in all, permeating the entire Cosmos, shining in every atom. You are in that Brahman (Divinity), and that Brahman is in you. You are that Brahman, and that Brahman is you. What greater truth can I convey to you? The first task I ask you to do is to develop awareness of the Divinity within you. The next stage is the realisation of the truth that the Divinity that is within one's self is equally present in all others. You must recognise that the veil or barrier that appears to separate Him from others is born of delusion and every effort should be made to remove it. Only then will it be possible to experience the oneness of all living things which is the declaration of the Sruti or Vedas: Aham eva idam Sarvam - I am indeed all of this. [Divine Discourse, Feb 16, 1988]

- BABA

Date7:2/2018

Love is vital. Love is Divine. To render an act fit to be offered to God and pure enough to win His Grace, it must be a manifestation of Love. Preserve Love from being poisoned from evil. Endeavour to cultivate love that is free from hatred and bias of all kinds. The root of all religions, the substance of all scriptures, the rendezvous of all roads, and the inspiration of all individuals is the Principle of Love (Prema). It is the firmest foundation for man's mission of Life. It is the Light that ensures world peace and world prosperity. Fill every word and every act of yours with Love. The word that emerges from your tongue shall not stab like the knife, nor wound like the arrow, nor hit like the hammer. It must be a foundation of sweet nectar, a counsel of consoling Vedhantic wisdom, and a soft path of blossoms; it must shower peace and joy. [Divine Discourse, July 29, 1969]

- BABA

Date6:2/2018

Lord Dakshinamurthy was walking along a wide seashore alone, immersed in deep meditation. He saw a dry little twig on the crest of a wave in the distance being passed on from one wave to another, from trough to crest, from crest to trough, until it was cast on the sands on the shore. He was astounded at the egoism of the Ocean that would not give asylum to even a tiny twig. Sensing His reaction, the Ocean declared, in words that He could understand, "Mine is neither egoism nor anger; it is only the duty of self-preservation. I should not allow the slightest blot to deface my grandeur. If I allow this twig to mar my splendour, it will be the first step in my downfall." Then, Dakshinamurthy smiled admiring the vigilance of the mighty Ocean. He pictured the incident as a great lesson in spiritual endeavour. The slightest twig of desire, if it falls on the mind, has to be immediately lifted out of the pure waters and thrown off. That was the lesson to be learnt. [Divine Discourse, Jun 26, 1969]

- BABA

Date5:2/2018

One discipline everyone of you must heed is the control of the senses; if you give them free rein, they will drag you into calamity. Education must render you monarch of your talents which are your tools for acquiring knowledge. The eye, the ear and the tongue are wild horses. Learn the art of meditation (dhyana) by which the senses can be controlled and the will directed inwards, towards the mastery of feelings and emotions. You must learn also how to steer clear of hatred, malice, greed, anger, anxiety, pride and other obstacles that come in the way of inner peace. It is not enough if your home budget is balanced; you must learn the art of having a balanced view of life, which does not get affected by triumphs and troubles, gains or losses, victory or defeat. This balance can be got only by reliance and faith in the in-dwelling God. [Divine Discourse, Jun 26, 1969]

- BABA

Date4:2/2018

A home must be filled with love, with the sacrifice that love involves, the joy that love radiates, and the peace that love imparts. Any brick and mortar structure where parents and children spend their lives cannot be a home if children do not yearn for it, and if parents do not find peace therein. The home is the temple where the family, each member of which is a moving temple, is nurtured and nourished. The mother is the high priest of this House of God. Humility is the incense with which the house is filled. Reverence is the lamp that is lit, with love as the oil and faith as the wick. Spend the years of your lives dedicating them for such worship in the homes that you live in. I bless you that through your faith and strength, your devotion and dedication may increase. [Divine Discourse, Jun 26, 1969]

- BABA

Date3:2/2018

Nowadays, the common accessory in every ladies’ bag and in gents’ pockets is a mirror and a comb. You dread that your charm is endangered when your hair is in slight disarray, or when your face reveals patches of powder; so, you try to correct the impression immediately. While so concerned about this fast-deteriorating personal charm, how much more concerned should you really be about the dust of envy and hate, and the patches of conceit and malice that desecrate your mind and hearts? Have a mirror and a comb for this purpose too! Have the mirror of Bhakti (devotion) to judge whether they are clean and bright. The comb of Jnana or wisdom, earned by discrimination straightens problems, resolves knots and enables you to control and channelise your feelings and emotions that are scattered wildly in all directions. Whatever you do, wherever you are, remember that I am with you and in you. This will save you from conceit and error. [Divine Discourse, Jun 26, 1969]

- BABA

Date2:2/2018

Human birth is the noblest of all, the final product of untold ages of your own progressive evolution. Ask yourself this: Are you consciously striving to live up to this precious gift you’ve won? From now on, make every living day a continuous offering of Love, like an oil lamp that exhausts itself in illumining the surroundings. Wear the invisible badge of a volunteer of God at all hours and in all places. Bend the body, mend the senses, and end the mind - that is the process of attaining the status of 'the children of immortality,' which the Upanishads have reserved for you. God is the embodiment of sweetness. Attain Him by offering Him the sweetness that He has endowed you with. Crush the cane in the mill of service, boil it in the cauldron of penitence, decolorise it of all sensual itch, and offer the crystallised sugar of compassionate Love to Him. [Divine Discourse, Jun 26, 1969]

- BABA

Date1:2/2018

The spirit of sacrifice is the basic prerequisite for every sevak (servitor). Without the inspiration of the sense of sacrifice, your seva will be hypocrisy, a hollow ritual. You wear the sevadal scarf over your apparel, only to remove it soon! When you remove the scarf, you feel relieved that you have been released from the obligation to love and serve. In doing so, you are only playing a temporary role in a drama, donning a scarf and doffing it. Internalise the spirit of sacrifice in your heart, deep and clear. God is Love and can be won only through the cultivation and exercise of Love. He cannot be trapped by any trick; He bestows grace only when His commands are followed - the command to love all and serve all. When you do this, you are serving yourself most - yourself whom you love most! For God's Grace envelops you then, and you are strengthened beyond all previous experience. [Divine Discourse, Jun 26, 1969]